Fishing licenses are sold by license issuing agents through an electronic point-of-sale (POS) system. This system brings increased efficiency, more options, and easier upgrades for anglers. Fishing licenses are sold online at: pa.wildlifelicense.com.
A current license, signed in ink, is required of persons age 16 and over to fish or angle for any species of fish and to take fishbait, baitfish and species of amphibians and reptiles from Commonwealth waters by those legal methods described in the Pennsylvania Summary of Fishing Regulations and Laws (Summary Book).
FISHING is defined as the act of angling, or to catch, take, kill or remove, or the attempt to catch, take, kill or remove, from any waters or other areas within or bordering this Commonwealth any fish by any means or method for any purpose whatsoever.
CASTING and/or RETRIEVING, whether by rod, reel and line, or by handline, for oneself or for others, requires a current license, unless specifically exempted by law. See "Assistance to Children" for specifics on when a license is required when assisting a child (12 years of age and under).
Annual licenses are valid from December 1, 2018, through December 31, 2019. WHILE FISHING, your license must be signed in ink and must be displayed on an outer garment. In addition, anglers must be prepared to furnish positive proof of identification.
* Includes issuing agent fee of $1.00 and $0.90 electronic processing fee. Excludes the 109 Mentored Youth Permit.
** Includes Trout-Salmon and Lake Erie permits, not valid March 15-April 30.
*** Applies to Senior Lifetime purchased on or after 1/1/2015 or may also be purchased as a trout program donation.
**** This is an optional purchase that requires an initial purchase of an annual fishing license in order to purchase. Valid Voluntary Youth Fishing License, Multi-Year fishing License and Senior Lifetime License holders are also eligible to purchase an annual button. Buttons can only be ordered at pa.wildlifelicense.com and from select PFBC locations.
WHILE FISHING, your license must be signed in ink and must be displayed on an outer garment. In addition, anglers must be prepared to furnish positive proof of identification.
* Includes issuing agent fee of $1.00 and $0.90 electronic processing fee.
** May also be purchased as a trout program donation.
MULTI-YEAR FISHING LICENSES: A 3-year fishing license is valid through 2021, a 5-year license is valid through 2023, and a 10-year fishing license is valid through 2028. Customers who buy multi-year licenses save money by not having to pay transaction and processing fees each year. Anglers can also purchase multi-year trout/salmon, Lake Erie and combo permits and experience similar savings, or purchase single year trout/salmon, Lake Erie and combo permits. To order and for more information on licenses, including receiving a free subscription to the digital version of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater magazine: www.GoneFishingPa.com.
MULTI-YEAR LICENSE UPGRADE CARDS: Anglers are able to purchase a durable plastic card version of the multi-year license. Available online at The Outdoor Shop - http://www.pa.wildlifelicense.com. Upgrades can also be purchased from a license issuing agent.
on the Internet at pa.wildlifelicense.com.
Lost Fishing License or Replacements - All replacement licenses include permits or privileges previously purchased by the customer. The total cost for a replacement license and previously purchased permits or privileges that printed on the base license is $6.90. Replacement cost of a 1-year permits or multi-year Senior trout/salmon permits is $6.90.
a current PA voter registration card.
All issued resident fishing licenses will remain valid for the year or years for which they are issued, regardless of whether the license holder is no longer a bona fide Pennsylvania resident.
National Guard & Armed Forces Reserve Licenses and Prisoner of War (POW) Licenses are available only at Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission and county treasurer offices.
National Guard & Armed Forces Reserve Licenses are available to those persons who provide documentation that within the previous 24 months the person was deployed overseas as a member of the reserve component of the armed forces for a period of 60 consecutive days or more or was released early from service because of an injury or disease incurred in the line of duty.
Prisoner of War (POW) Licenses are available to persons who provide military documentation stating the person is a former prisoner of war.
Senior Resident and Senior Lifetime Licenses are available to those persons at anytime during the year in which they will become age 65.
Persons who possess a Resident Senior Lifetime license dated before January 1, 1991, are not required to purchase a Trout/Salmon permit.
Senior Resident Lifetime License holders who purchase their license as of Jan. 1, 2015, are required to purchase a Trout/Salmon permit each year that the license holder desires to fish for trout. License holders can purchase the trout/salmon permit annually or purchase the permit for a 3-,5-,10-year period. License holders are required to purchase only one Lake Erie permit for a lifetime. In the event the license holder is no longer a Pennsylvania resident, the license continues to be valid.
Senior Resident Lifetime License Upgrade - A durable plastic card version of the Senior Resident Lifetime license is available. Available online at The Outdoor Shop - http://www.pa.wildlifelicense.com. Upgrades can also be purchased from a license issuing agent.
Disabled Veterans Licenses – Any disabled veteran who has a disability incurred in any war or armed conflict that consists of the loss of one or more limbs or the loss of use of one or more limbs, or total blindness, or who is 100 percent disabled as certified by the United States Veterans Administration and is a resident of this Commonwealth may obtain a free resident fishing license upon application to the Commission or county treasurer.
Reduced Disabled Veterans Licenses – Any disabled veteran who has a disability incurred in any war or armed conflict that consists of the loss of one or more limbs or the loss of use of one or more limbs, or total blindness, or who is between 60 and 99 percent disabled as certified by the United States Veterans Administration and is a resident of this Commonwealth may obtain a reduced fee resident fishing license upon application to the Fish & Boat Commission or county treasurer.
Military personnel are required to purchase a fishing license. Those who are stationed in Pennsylvania under permanent change of station orders (PCS) for a duration of 6 months or more, who produce documentation proving same, qualify for a resident fishing license. All others must obtain a tourist or non-resident license.
be here on authorized leave.
While in the act of fishing, the military personnel must carry proof of each of these requirements, such as a PA driver's license, a military ID and valid military orders showing the place of assignment and leave status.
Under the law, a qualifying soldier, sailor, airman or Marine does not receive a free Pennsylvania fishing license. Instead, eligible active duty military personnel can legally fish without a license under the limited circumstances outlined in the law. The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission recommends that anyone taking advantage of this provision display a military ID while in the act of fishing in much the same way as one would display a conventional fishing license.
The law does not exempt military personnel on leave from any other requirements of fishing or boating laws and regulations.
Students from out of state who are attending school in Pennsylvania but who have not become residents of Pennsylvania are NOT eligible to purchase a resident fishing license and must obtain a tourist or non-resident license.
Social Security Number Requirements - Since 1998, federal and state laws require purchasers of a Pennsylvania fishing license to provide their social security number when applying to purchase a fishing license.
Vouchers– A voucher may be purchased as a gift for another individual that can be redeemed for a license and/or stamp or privilege. A voucher may be redeemed at any issuing agent. The voucher is non-refundable and expires as noted. A voucher is not a fishing license and individuals using a voucher to fish are in violation of the Fish and Boat Code and may be subject to legal action. Individuals wishing to purchase vouchers for Christmas presents need to wait until December 1 of that year before purchasing a voucher.
1-Day Tourist and 1-Day Resident License – 1-Day Tourist and 1-Day Resident Licenses are not valid for fishing during the period from March 15th to April 30th of any year. 1-Day Tourist or 1-Day Resident Licenses issued to be used on March 14 will expire at 11:59 p.m. on March 14 regardless of what time the license begins.
To participate in a Mentored Youth Fishing Day, anglers 16 years of age or older (adult anglers) must possess a valid Pennsylvania fishing license and be accompanied by a youth (less than 16 years of age) who has obtained a Mentored Youth Fishing Permit OR a Voluntary Youth Fishing License. In addition to a valid fishing license, the adult angler (mentor) must possess a valid trout permit when the Mentored Youth Fishing Day relates to trout. While mentors will be permitted to fish for trout, they are not permitted to harvest trout and must release them unharmed. Youth may harvest up to two trout (combined species) with a minimum size of 7 inches. All other Commonwealth Inland Water Regulations apply.
The Mentored Youth Fishing Permit is free, and the Voluntary Youth Fishing License is $2.90 ($1.00 cost plus $1.90 in agent/transaction fee).
While both the permit and the Voluntary Youth Fishing License provide the opportunity for youth to fish on Mentored Youth Fishing Days, the Voluntary Youth Fishing License provides an extended return for both Pennsylvania's youth and the Commission. For each license purchased for $2.90, the Commission receives $5 back in funding as a federal reimbursement. The same applies for each Voluntary Youth Fishing License Voucher, once it is redeemed. The Commission receives no federal reimbursement for Mentored Youth Fishing Permits.
The funds received from the sales of the license reimbursement are then dedicated toward investment in youth outreach and education programs.
While both the permit and the license provide the opportunity to participate in Mentored Youth Fishing Days, the Commission encourages anglers to purchase either a Voluntary Youth Fishing License or a Voluntary Youth Fishing License Voucher—for the future of fishing!
The annual buttons are available to all current, adult and youth Pennsylvania fishing license customers who possess a valid Pennsylvania fishing license that enables them to fish for the entire year. Lifetime Senior License and Multi-Year License holders can also purchase the buttons. For all eligible customers, the buttons are NOT required by law, and they are an optional purchase. The fee is $10.00 per button.
Use of a valid Alternate Display Annual Fishing License Button meets the fishing license display requirement as long as the angler has a license certificate in their possession.
Previously issued annual fishing license buttons are available through a separate online store, beginning with the first button issued in 2014 of this series. To purchase these vintage fishing license buttons, visit PaVintageFishingButtons.com.